Dell Update Packages Version 6.0.1 User Manual

Dell™ Update Packages for
Linux Operating Systems

User’s Guide

Notes and Cautions

NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of
your computer.
CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates potential damage to hardware or loss of data if
____________________
Information in this document is subject to change without notice. © 2009 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction of these materials in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, and OpenManage are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Microsoft and Windows are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries; Intel is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation in the United States and other countries; Red Hat and Red Hat Enterprise Linux are registered trademarks of Red Hat, Inc. in the United States and other countries; SUSE is a registered trademark of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries; VMware and ESX Server are registered trademarks or trademarks of VMware, Inc. in the United States and/or other jurisdictions; Citrix and XenServer are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Citrix Systems, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.
Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.
February 2009
Contents
1 Getting Started With Dell Update
Packages
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Server Update Utility and DUPs
Update Options
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Supported Operating Systems
OpenIPMI Requirements
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Using DUPs in the DTK Pre-Operating System Environment
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Dell-Qualified and Dell-Enabled Packages
Before You Begin
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
How to Obtain DUPs from the Dell Support Website
Installation Order of DUPs
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Important Tips to Remember for Using DUPs
Other Documents You Might Need
Obtaining Technical Assistance
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
. . . . . . . . . . . 13
. . . . . . . . . . . . 14
. . . . . . . 11
Contents 3
2 Using Dell Update Packages . . . . . . . . . 15
Before You Begin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Develop Your System Update Plan
Acquiring DUPs
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Update Packages Component and System Compatibility
Executing DUPs
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Verifying the Digital Signature
Compatibility Concerns
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Effects of Applying the Updates on a Running System
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Delivering DUPs to Your Systems
Updating Many Systems
Confirming the Update
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Update and Roll Back in the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) environment
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
. . . . . . . . . 15
. . . . . . . . . . . 19
. . . . . . . . . . 24
3 Command Line Interface
Reference
4 Contents
Typical Usage Scenarios
Scenario One — Retasking a System
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
. . . . . . . 28
Scenario Two — BIOS Update for 200 Systems
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Using the CLI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
CLI Options
Exit Codes for CLI
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
4 Rebuilding Packages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Dell-Qualified Path
Dell-Enabled Path
Dynamic Kernel Support
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Determining Whether Your Package Is Supported
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Setting Up a Test System for Rebuilding a Package
Scenario
Prerequisites for the Test System
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
. . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Rebuilding a Package to Add Kernel Support to a Single System
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Rebuilding the Package to Add Kernel Support for Multiple Kernel Versions
Scenario
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Deploying Custom Packages Across the Environment
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
. . . . . . . . . . 46
5 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Known Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Diagnostic Tasks will not run while a DUP reboot is pending
Abnormal termination of a DUP
Error while loading shared libraries
Insufficient free physical memory to load the BIOS image
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
. . . . . . . . . . 49
. . . . . . . . 49
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Contents 5
Kernel panic while running storage controller firmware update packages
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Loss of functionality while renaming Linux DUPs
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Messages
DUP Message Logs
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Messages Log
Messages Log File
Support Log File Example
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Index
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
6 Contents

Getting Started With Dell Update Packages

Overview

Dell™ Update Packages (DUPs) allow administrators to update a wide range of system components simultaneously and apply scripts to similar sets of Dell systems, to bring system software components up to the same version levels.
By using DUPs, you can perform the following functions:
Apply an individual update to a system by using an interactive command line interface (CLI)
Execute multiple updates for your system by using a script comprised of non
-
interactive commands that you write using the CLI feature
Leverage your operating system’s scheduling and software distribution utilities to apply updates remotely to any number of servers
Each DUP (Dell Update Package) is designed to update a single software component on your system. This product feature allows you to select and apply just the updates that you want for your system, thus minimizing the resources required to transport the DUP across your network.
DUPs improve your ability to update your systems effectively. For example, each DUP contains pertinent information about when Dell issued the package, which systems the DUP is designed to support, and what functional enhancements are contained in the update or which problems were fixed.
Each DUP contains the execution logic to verify that the update will work on your system. When using DUPs, you are not required to use any Dell OpenManage™ software applications, and you do not have to create alternative media. Each DUP also carries a digital signature to ensure reliable and trusted authentication. See "Verifying the Digital Signature" for more information.
You can use DUPs interactively, which is ideal for applying a limited number of updates. When you execute a package interactively, it first displays a scrollable view of the package release notes. You may view these notes
Getting Started With Dell Update Packages 7
before optionally continuing with the execution of the package. You can also use DUPs in non experienced user, to accommodate large environments with multiple systems, or to process multiple updates per system.
This guide is designed to familiarize you with Linux DUPs so that you can begin applying them to simplify the system software maintenance on your Dell systems. The "Using Dell Update Packages" section of this guide provides several sample scenarios for using DUPs.
-interactive mode to facilitate rapid deployment for an

Server Update Utility and DUPs

Dell OpenManage Server Update Utility (SUU) is a DVD–based application that is used to identify and apply the latest updates to your system. It is both a Graphical User Interface (GUI) and a Command Line Interface (CLI) based application. SUU compares the versions of components currently installed on your system with the update components packaged on the Dell Server Updates DVD and then displays a comparison report of the versions and provides the option of updating the components. You can use SUU to update your system or view the updates available for any system listed in the repository. The Dell Server Updates DVD is available as part of the Dell OpenManage subscription service kit.
Linux DUPs can be downloaded from the Dell Support site at
support.dell.com. They are also available in the repository on the Dell Server Updates DVD. The repository folder in the Dell Server Updates DVD
contains Windows and Linux DUPs, Catalog.xml (that contains information about both Windows and Linux DUPs), and the DellSoftwareBundleReport.html. SUU uses DUPs to update the system components.
Update Options
You can update your system components using any one of the two options listed below:
Element Update–To update an individual system software component (element) to a specific version. Use DUP to perform element updates.
8 Getting Started With Dell Update Packages
System Update–To update all elements on your system. Dell recommends that you use SUU to automatically:
inventory the Dell firmware and drivers on that system
compare the installed configuration with the content on the
Updates
report on discrepancies and recommend updates, including any prerequisites that may impact the update sequence
update and (if needed) reboot the system
NOTE: See the Server Update Utility User's Guide available on the Dell Support
website at support.dell.com or on the Dell Systems Management Tools and Documentation DVD for information on how SUU identifies and applies updates to your entire system.
Figure 1-1 helps you choose between SUU and DUPs when performing updates:
Figure 1-1. Choosing between SUU and DUPs
DVD
Dell Server

Supported Operating Systems

For a complete list of supported systems and operating systems, see the
Dell Systems Software Support Matrix located on the Dell Systems Management Tools and Documentation DVD or on the Dell Support website
at support.dell.com. The Dell Systems Software Support Matrix has information about the various Dell systems, the operating systems supported by these systems, and the Dell OpenManage™ components that can be installed on these systems.
Getting Started With Dell Update Packages 9

OpenIPMI Requirements

Certain DUPs may require the latest OpenIPMI Linux device drivers to be installed on your system. If you are prompted during installation to obtain the latest drivers, see the Dell Support website at support.dell.com, or visit the support site for your Linux operating system to download the latest drivers.

Using DUPs in the DTK Pre-Operating System Environment

The Dell OpenManage Deployment Toolkit (DTK) includes utilities, sample scripts, and other tools for configuring and deploying Dell systems. DTK is released in two versions: the Linux version is distributed as an Embedded Linux
-based ISO, and the Windows
(Windows PE) version is distributed as a package of Dell with instructions on how to integrate with a standard Windows PE image. Booting the CD created from the ISO image creates a Toolkit folder which contains subdirectories with the necessary files to perform deployment tasks.
NOTE: Currently, DUPs are supported only in the DTK embedded Linux
environment.
The bootable DTK embedded Linux environment is required for bare-metal (or pre-operating system) DUP execution and is bootable from many types of media and does not require the local disk. It allows users to use Linux DUPs for change management.
Users can boot to the system under the DTK embedded Linux Environment and execute the package from either a network drive, a USB device supporting Linux file systems, or a CD drive, with the following options:
Interactive Mode:
./packagename
®
Preinstallation Environment
-provided content
Non
-Interactive Mode:
./packagename -q
or
./packagename -q -r
10 Getting Started With Dell Update Packages
A successful update will return the exit code to either 0, 2 or 6.
NOTE: For dependencies and information on running DUPs in the Dell-provided
embedded Linux environment and in a customized embedded Linux environment and for information on the required files and tools, see the Dell OpenManage Deployment Toolkit User's Guide on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com. The required minimum kernel version is 2.6.9-42.

Dell-Qualified and Dell-Enabled Packages

A DUP can be applied as a Linux operating system DUP for a system in one of the following ways:
The DUP that you are applying
The DUP that you are applying can be kernels and operating systems in your environment. See "Dell-Enabled Path" for more information.
matches
the Dell-qualified operating systems.
enabled
to work with the running

Before You Begin

DUPs support Dell systems running the operating systems listed in the
"
Overview" section.
that has root (administrator) privileges.
How to Obtain DUPs from the Dell Support Website
1
Log on to
2
Click
Drivers and Downloads.
3
Enter your service tag or choose your product model.
4
Select your product family and product line.
5
Select your operating system, language, category, and the update importance. A list of applicable updates are displayed.
6
Click
Download Now
7
You can also download a different file format from the column labeled
File Title
If you want to download more than one file type, you must do so one at a time.
8
To complete the download of your file, follow the directions on the screen.
You must be able to log on to the system with an account
support.dell.com
. Select a file format for your DUP and single-click its filename.
.
.
Getting Started With Dell Update Packages 11
Before installing DUPs, read the information provided, both online and in the download package. Ensure that the updates you selected are both necessary and appropriate for your system. You may also need to complete some or all of the following steps:
1
Add executable privileges to the package filename. Type the following command:
chmod +x
Verify that the package meets the prerequisites for performing an update.
2
packagename
.bin
To perform the check from the CLI, type the following command at the command line prompt:
./packagename
Determine a methodology for performing the updates.
3
.bin -c
Single update method: Run the DUP from the command line in interactive mode to perform the update.
Script method: Use this method if you have a requirement for running one or more updates from a script on one or more systems in non-interactive mode.
Installation Order of DUPs
If you are installing multiple DUPs, install the updates that require a reboot at the end. Dell recommends the installation order as described in Table 1-1.
Table 1-1. Update Packages: Recommended Installation Order
Installation Order System Software Components
1 Linux device driver
2 Device firmware
3 ESM firmware
4 BIOS
NOTE: If you have updated the BIOS, the changes to the BIOS do not take effect
until you reboot your system.
NOTE: To ensure a single reboot, you must install the ESM firmware update before
the BIOS update.
12 Getting Started With Dell Update Packages
Important Tips to Remember for Using DUPs
Prepare repair disks before you perform any updates.
Download the currently installed version of drivers, BIOS, and firmware so that you have a backup plan in case any issues arise.
Ensure that you have a backup of operating system files or system configuration files stored on a system other than the one you are updating.
Ensure that the updates are planned for and performed by the system administrator who knows which applications could be affected.
Before updating all systems, perform the upgrade on one nonessential system to test the update.
Do not run other applications while executing DUPs.
Do not shut down the system while an update is in progress.
Ensure that the system reboots without power interruption after performing a BIOS update.
Do not close any terminal console windows used for performing the DUP CLI execution, while DUP executions are in progress.

Other Documents You Might Need

The
The
Dell OpenManage Server Administrator Compatibility Guide
Dell OpenManage Server Administrator on the Dell Support website at
support.dell.com
Documentation
all systems management releases that precede the current release date.
NOTE: DUPs do not require the Dell OpenManage Server Administrator to be
installed on your system.
Server Update Utility User's Guide
support.dell.com
Documentation DVD
apply updates to your system. Server Update Utility (SUU) is one of the applications used to update your Dell system or to view updates available for any supported system. SUU compares the versions of components currently installed on your system with update components packaged on the
Dell Server Updates
versions and provides an option of updating the components.
, or on the
DVD that came with your system. The guide summarizes
or on the
DVD. It then displays a comparison report of the
Dell Systems Management Tools and
on the Dell Support website at
Dell Systems Management Tools and
which provides information on how to identify and
Getting Started With Dell Update Packages 13
under
•The
•The
•The
Dell OpenManage Deployment Toolkit (DTK) User's Guide
Dell Support website at on how to execute Linux DUPs in the Dell–provided or in the customized embedded Linux environment including the required dependencies.
Dell OpenManage IT Assistant User’s Guide
website at
Documentation
DUPs and System Update Sets into a central repository, then compare the packages to the versions of the software currently running on your enterprise systems. You can then decide whether to update systems that are not in compliance, either immediately or according to a schedule you define. You can use SUU with IT Assistant to update multiple systems in a single session.
support.dell.com
Documentation
Dell systems, the operating systems supported by these systems, and the Dell OpenManage components that can be installed on these systems.
support.dell.com
DVD. Dell OpenManage IT Assistant allows you to load
Dell Systems Software Support Matrix
DVD. This document has information about the various
support.dell.com.
or on the
The guide provides information
on the Dell Support
or on the
Dell Systems Management Tools and
Dell Systems Management Tools and
on the Dell Support website at
on the

Obtaining Technical Assistance

If at any time you do not understand a procedure described in this guide, or if your product does not perform as expected, different types of help are available. For more information see Installation and Troubleshooting Guide or the Hardware Owner’s Manual.
Additionally, Dell Enterprise Training and Certification is available; see www.dell.com/training for more information. This service might not be offered in all locations.
"Getting Help" in your system's
14 Getting Started With Dell Update Packages

Using Dell Update Packages

Before You Begin

This section is designed to help you get the most out of Dell™ Update Packages (DUPs). Updating the system software on your Dell systems should be a key element of your company's overall change management policies and procedures. Maintaining the system software on your Dell systems helps ensure trouble-free operation.
Before you apply any update to your system, you may want to carefully plan your update strategy, based on the conditions that are necessitating the update. Many reasons may exist for making the decision to update your Dell system, such as:
Correcting a security concern
Correcting a problem on your system, based on a recommendation from Dell support personnel
Updating a system software component to a minimum level required by an application
Gaining access to a new feature or improved performance
Updating all system components as part of your company's periodic maintenance process
Each of the preceding update situations entails different levels of urgency, but all require a certain level of planning to ensure a successful update with minimal disruption to your applications and users. The following subsections help you develop the system update strategy that best fits your needs, your company's policies and procedures, and the tools available to you.
Develop Your System Update Plan
You may want or need to update your system for many reasons, as mentioned in the preceding section. This update requirement may be classified as either planned or unplanned.
Using Dell Update Packages 15
Planned updates occur as a part of your regular cycle of maintaining your systems with up-to-date BIOS, firmware, and drivers. Many IT organizations establish a regular schedule for performing the updates, which are integrated with the planned maintenance functions. The frequency of these updates varies from company to company; however, it is not uncommon for companies to adopt quarterly or semiannual update schedules. Irregular but still planned updates may occur whenever a system is retasked with a new application or the operating system is either upgraded or changed. Any time that you have scheduled planned outage or downtime for your system may be a good time to consider upgrading the system software components.
Unplanned updates typically occur as a result of applying a critical upgrade to your system to avoid data loss, service interruption, or security threats. You may, for example, be advised to apply an update in response to a call you have placed to a Dell support professional. Although the urgency of applying such an update is greater than a planned update, you know that you must apply careful thought and consideration to ensure a successful update with minimal disruption to your users. The key to success is always having a well-planned strategy for all possible scenarios.
Acquiring DUPs
Dell provides a number of aids to help you determine whether or not your system requires an update. You can locate the DUP for your system on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com. For instructions, see "How to Obtain DUPs from the Dell Support Website."
Update Packages Component and System Compatibility
After you locate your DUP, read the summary information to determine whether or not you should download the update and apply it to your system. You can run the DUP and read the summary information by using the command line interface option --version. For more information on the
--version option, see "Command Line Interface Reference." This information is provided to help you determine whether the update is appropriate for your system and your specific environment.
16 Using Dell Update Packages
Executing DUPs
You can run DUPs from the console in both interactive and non-interactive modes.
Interactive Mode
In the interactive mode, you issue a command, and the interface prompts you for permission to continue executing the command. When you execute a package interactively, it first displays a scrollable view of the release notes for the package. You may view these notes before continuing with the execution of the package.
The DUP may be executed from a local console attached to the target server or from an administrator’s workstation by using a remote shell, such as ssh. Once a package has been delivered to the target system, administrators can execute the package in its simplest form by typing ./packagename.bin from the working directory, where packagename is the model and component name of the package. This syntax assumes that the .bin file has the appropriate permissions set and that a user account with root privileges executes the update. Once underway, the DUP will echo its progress and status to the console (stdout) and log its activity to /var/log/messages.
The following example shows the command for applying a BIOS DUP to a Dell system in interactive mode:
chmod +x ./PE1650-BIOS-LX-A10.bin ./PE1650-BIOS-LX-A10.bin
The DUP application writes the following messages to the screen. Interactive mode requires Y/N responses to continue with update and reboot.
Collecting inventory... Running validation... BIOS The version of this Update Package is newer than the currently installed version. Software application name: BIOS Package version: A10 Installed version: A9 Continue: Y/N? Y Y entered; update was forced by user
-specific
Using Dell Update Packages 17
Executing update... WARNING: DO NOT STOP THIS PROCESS WHILE BIOS UPDATE IS IN PROGRESS. STOPPING MAY CAUSE YOUR SYSTEM TO BECOME UNSTABLE! Update successful. Would you like to reboot your system now? N The system should be restarted for the update to take effect.
Version Information
One of the most informative commands uses the --version option.
An actual example that retrieves extensive version information for a DUP is as follows:
[root@localhost 1027]# ./PE1650-BIOS-LX-A10.bin -­version Dell Update Package 2.
x
Copyright (c) 2003-2004 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. Release Title:
Dell Server System BIOS, A10
Release Date:
November 21, 2003
Release ID:
R60452
Supported System(s):
PowerEdge 1650
Prerequisite(s):
BIOS A05
Description:
PowerEdge 1650, BIOS, A10
Supported Device(s):
Server System BIOS
18 Using Dell Update Packages
Fixes / Enhancements: * Added support for version 2.8 of the onboard RAID controller (PERC3/Di) firmware. * Corrected issues affecting the Preboot Execution Environment (PXE).
* Corrected problems which cause the system to power up at unexpected times. * Corrected problems with the Remote BIOS Update feature. * Corrected issues in BIOS USB Support. * Corrected issues in Embedded Server Management support.
Non-Interactive Mode
Non-interactive mode is essential when executing a script for applying DUPs to multiple systems. When applying DUPs to multiple systems, you cannot answer yes or no during script execution. Your script specifies -q for non
-interactive mode; often script writers add -f for force and -r for reboot if
a reboot is required for the type of update being performed.
In the following command example, the command applies a BIOS DUP without any user confirmation, forces the execution in the case of a downgrade from a more recent BIOS version, and reboots the system after the DUP is applied. This command is executed provided the DUP satisfies all the system and version requirements.
./PE2850-ESM_FRMW_LX_R92394.bin -q -f -r
For more information on the command line interface (CLI), see "Command Line Interface Reference."
Verifying the Digital Signature
A digital signature is used to authenticate the identity of the signer of a file and to certify that the original content of the file has not been modified since it was signed.
Using Dell Update Packages 19
If you do not already have it installed on your system, you must install the Gnu Privacy Guard (GPG) to verify a Linux DUP digital signature. To use the standard verification procedure, perform the following steps:
1
Get the Dell Linux public GnuPG key, if you do not already have it. You can download it by navigating to
Dell Public GPG key
2
Import the public key to your gpg trust database by running the following
link.
lists.us.dell.com
and clicking the
command:
gpg --import
NOTE: You must have your private key to complete the process.
3
To avoid a distrusted-key warning, validate the public key by its fingerprint
<Public Key Filename>
before you use it.
a
Type the following command:
gpg --edit-key 23B66A9D
b
Within the GPG key editor, type
fpr
. The following message
appears:
pub 1024D/23B66A9D 2001-04-16 Dell, Inc. (Product Group) <linux-security@dell.com> Primary key fingerprint: 4172 E2CE 955A 1776 A5E6 1BB7 CA77 951D 23B6 6A9D
If the fingerprint of your imported key is the same as the key owner's, you have a correct copy of the key. You can verify the key's owner in person, over the phone, or by any other means that guarantees that you are communicating with the key's true owner.
c
While still in the key editor, type
d
Answer the list of trust-validation questions that appears and create
sign
a passphrase to use as your secret key.
You must import and validate the public key only once.
20 Using Dell Update Packages
.
4
Obtain the Linux DUP and its associated signature file from the Dell Support website at
NOTE: Each Linux DUP has a separate signature file, which is shown on the
same web page as the DUP. You need both the DUP and its associated signature file for verification. By default, the signature file is named the same as the DUP filename with a .sign extension. For example, if a Linux DUP is named PE1850-BIOS-LX-A02.BIN, its signature filename is PE1850-BIOS-LX-A02.BIN.sign. To download the files, right-click the download link and use the "Save Target As..." file option.
5
Verify the DUP:
gpg --verify
support.dell.com/support/downloads
.
<Linux Update Package signature
filename> <Linux Update Package filename>
The following example illustrates the steps that you follow to verify a 1425SC BIOS DUP:
1
Download the following two files from
support.dell.com
:
PESC1425-BIOS-LX-A01.bin.sign
PESC1425-BIOS-LX-A01.bin
2
Import the public key by running the following command line:
gpg --import <linux-security-publickey.txt>
The following output message appears:
gpg: key 23B66A9D: "Dell Computer Corporation (Linux Systems Group) <linux­security@dell.com>" not changed gpg: Total number processed: 1 gpg: unchanged: 1
Using Dell Update Packages 21
3
Validate the Dell public key, if you haven’t done so previously, by typing the following command:
gpg --edit-key 23B66A9D
At the command prompt, type the following commands:
fpr sign
Answer the validation questions.
4
Verify the PESC1425 BIOS package digital signature by running the following command:
gpg --verify PESC1425-BIOS-LX-A01.bin.sign PESC1425-BIOS-LX-A01.bin
The following output message appears:
gpg: Signature made Thu 14 Apr 2005 04:25:37 AM IST using DSA key ID 23B66A9D gpg: Good signature from "Dell Computer Corporation (Linux Systems Group) <linux­security@dell.com>"
NOTE: If you have not validated the key as shown in step 3, you will receive
additional messages:
gpg: WARNING: This key is not certified with a trusted signature! gpg: There is no indication that the signature belongs to the owner. Primary key fingerprint: 4172 E2CE 955A 1776 A5E6 1BB7 CA77 951D 23B6 6A9D
Compatibility Concerns
DUPs are designed to confirm that all prerequisites are satisfied before applying the update to your system. Each DUP checks to ensure the following:
The logged-on user has root privileges.
The DUP to be applied in the command is compatible with your target system.
The DUP to be applied in the command is compatible with the operating system running on your system.
22 Using Dell Update Packages
The device associated with the DUP is present on your system.
The minimum required versions of related system software are running on your system.
DUPs are designed with built-in error handling capabilities to ensure that the preceding requirements are validated. If the conditions are not met, no update occurs. DUPs also check for dependencies between BIOS and certain ESM packages. The application design allows you to create groups of DUPs and apply them to a wide range of systems. Additionally, if you only want to verify that a given package can be applied to your system, you can invoke the package by using the following CLI command:
./
Packagename
.bin -c
This command executes the dependency rules within the DUP, issues any warnings, exits without applying the update to your system, and writes the results to the console. You can also use the DUP to set an exit code to perform decisions within your scripts.
Effects of Applying the Updates on a Running System
System Reboot Required
Certain packages, such as those that update the system BIOS, require a reboot for the new software to take effect. After you apply an update that requires a reboot, you must restart the system to complete the update.
You have the option of choosing to defer the reboot until another time as long as you do not turn off the system. This feature is primarily intended to allow you to apply any number of updates together and perform the system reboot after the last update has been applied. If this process is interrupted, for example, through a power interruption, you must repeat the updates. Therefore, Dell recommends that you schedule updates for a time when the reboot can take place immediately after you apply the last update.
Impact on Users and Applications
Generally, you can apply the updates to a running system because they consume few system resources. Be sure to read the information contained in the DUP before applying the update to determine if applying the update may cause a service interruption to your users or applications. When in doubt, always apply updates at a time when no critical applications or users require the system.
Using Dell Update Packages 23
Specifying the Order of Multiple Updates
When applying multiple updates at the same time, be sure to use the order indicated in "Installation Order of DUPs." As previously noted in "System Reboot Required," you may defer rebooting the system until after running the last of multiple DUPs.
Saving Console Output
As the DUPs are executed, messages are printed to the console. To redirect console output, use the following syntax with interactive commands:
./
packagename
.bin | tee -a
logname
.log
The | tee specifies the output from the DUP to be sent to both the console and to a log file. The -a switch ensures that output is appended to a file, protecting any previous log file output from being overwritten.
The following are two example commands that redirect output to a log file:
./PE2600-BIOS-LX-A01.bin | tee -a /var/bioslogs.log ./PE2600-BIOS-LX-A01.bin -q | tee -a /var/bioslogs.log
If you run these commands in the order shown above, the first command directs its interactive mode output to be appended to the log file. The second command directs its non
-interactive mode output to be appended to the end
of the same log file.
Delivering DUPs to Your Systems
The DUP application does not provide scheduling and delivery of the packages to multiple systems. You must rely on third-party or native operating system applications to accomplish script execution and distribution on multiple systems.
Using Software Distribution Applications With DUPs
Many IT organizations use internally developed or purchased software distribution applications to remotely install and update software.
24 Using Dell Update Packages
Updating Many Systems
For large environments that consist of hundreds or perhaps thousands of systems, remote software distribution applications provide the best solution. Many of these tools can effectively leverage the DUP and provide the convenience of installing and updating a variety of software, such as operating systems and applications, in a heterogeneous environment.
Network file shares also are an effective method of making DUP accessible in a distributed environment. When a DUP begins execution, it first copies the contents of the package to a temporary location on the system’s local drive. This process ensures that the update can be completed even if the connection to the network share is lost for any reason.
Stand-alone Systems and Firewalls
For systems that are not connected to the Internet or that have firewalls which block user downloads, you need to download your DUP from support.dell.com by using a system that does have access to the Internet, such as your desktop or portable computer. You can make DUP available to your system by copying them onto removable media that your system supports (such as CD, USB devices, tape, and so on).
Confirming the Update
To ensure that DUPs were applied to your system, review the console output that was generated during execution. See "Troubleshooting" for detailed information about the messages.
If you want to revert to a previous (older) version of the software after updating to a newer version, you must download the appropriate DUP from support.dell.com and install it. To install the previous version from a script, use -q (unattended) mode. In addition, you must use the CLI -f option, which forces the downgrade.
NOTE: If your system loses power during the update process, you must perform the
updates again.
Using Dell Update Packages 25
NOTE: DUPs for Linux can also be found in the repository on the Dell Server
Updates DVD that contains the updated BIOS, and firmware components for
Dell systems. The Dell OpenManage™ Server Update Utility (SUU) is an application for identifying and applying updates to your system. You can use SUU to update your Dell system or to view updates available for any system supported by SUU. It compares the versions of components currently installed on your system with update components packaged on the Dell Server Updates DVD and then displays a comparison report of the versions and provides the option of updating the components. See the Server Update Utility User's Guide available on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com or on the Dell Systems Management Tools and Documentation DVD for more information.

Update and Roll Back in the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) environment

Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC), the service processor embedded in every Dell PowerEdge™ xx1x system, has a large server provisioning flash storage space. This storage space carries various tools and firmware images that are required for provisioning, and is divided into several partitions with each partition carrying images which are used by several software services and the BIOS. The partitions are made available by iDRAC whenever a service running on the host CPU or an application requests through IPMI commands, availability of that partition. The provisioning components within this storage space include UEFI tools, server diagnostics, firmware images including rollback images, deployment drivers, and the life cycle log (LCL) partition.
The Dell Unified Server Configurator (USC) is a preinstalled configuration utility that enables systems and storage management tasks from an embedded environment throughout the system’s lifecycle. Residing on the embedded flash storage space, the USC is similar to a BIOS utility in that it can be started during the boot sequence and can function independently of the operating system. UEFI and USC together provide an environment to deploy your current ( the UEFI environment to enable deployment of
"bare–metal") system. DUPs support update of platform firmware in
"bare–metal" systems.
26 Using Dell Update Packages
You can enable two types of updates in the UEFI environment:
Update of platform firmware for supported devices
updates are for the USC, drivers, and diagnostics.
—the only available
Use the USC Platform Update wizard to display a list of available updates for your system. After you select the updates you want to apply, the USC downloads and applies the updates.
You can download updates:
from the Dell FTP server
from a locally configured FTP server. You must have access to
ftp.dell.com
to download the updates that are hosted by the local
FTP server.
by using a proxy server to access an FTP server
from a USB device.
NOTE: See the Unified Server Configurator User’s Guide available on the Dell
Support website at support.dell.com for more information on USC.
Run the Platform Update wizard to ensure that you have the most current drivers before installing the operating system. You can also use the Platform Update wizard to update the diagnostics utility.
Update of applications stored on the
flash storage space
—Applications
such as UEFI and Diagnostics are updated in the UEFI environment.
You can update any component, for example BIOS, in both the UEFI and customer operating system environment. After it is updated successfully in the customer operating system environment using DUPs, you can enter the UEFI environment and rollback the component to the version that was previously installed before the update occurred.
Platform firmware rollback to the previous version is supported in the UEFI environment. If your operating system has a non–functioning application because of a BIOS or firmware flash, reboot to the UEFI environment and roll back to the previous version.
To support the rollback feature in the UEFI environment, a firmware image repository for all devices that can be updated in the UEFI environment is placed on the flash storage space. If you decide to update any device in the UEFI environment, the update package of the corresponding device is downloaded from the source location specified by you. Versions from the life cycle log (LCL) are compared to the online catalog from the Dell FTP site. The LCL has records of firmware versions for devices that are updatable in
Using Dell Update Packages 27
the UEFI environment and is updated with new inventory information. Deployed versions are logged in the LCL. Update packages are not downloaded from the Dell FTP website if the repository already contains the latest version. After successfully downloading, verifying, and extracting the DUP payload, the corresponding devices are updated using the DUP payload and the available UEFI based update tools. If the update fails, error messages are displayed and a completion status, success or failure, is logged in the LCL.
NOTE: DUPs are enhanced to leverage the flash storage space to apply updates.
These DUPs accomplish update tasks by staging update images in the storage space, registering tasks in the System Service Information Block (SSIB), and cause your system to reboot into the System Service Manager (SSM) in which the tasks are executed. Rollback is not supported in a customer operating system environment.

Typical Usage Scenarios

Scenario One — Retasking a System
You are the system administrator for a large company. Your group requires an additional system to support a new financial analysis package, and you have access to a Dell system that is no longer in use, from another department within the company. Because the Dell system has an older operating system installed on it, you plan to upgrade the operating system before installing the new financial application. You also plan to install the most current BIOS and ESM firmware offered by Dell, as well as install the Dell OpenManage Server Administrator systems management software.
To prepare the system to run the company's new financial software, perform the following general steps:
1
Use the came with the Dell system to install the most current version of the Red Hat
2
Log on to Dell hardware service tag for the Dell system. Otherwise, you can also select the
3
Locate the BIOS and ESM firmware DUPs for the Dell system and download them.
Additionally, download the Server Administrator application.
Dell Systems Management Tools and Documentation
®
Enterprise Linux® AS operating system.
support.dell.com
Model
.
, select
Drivers and Downloads
DVD that
and enter the
28 Using Dell Update Packages
4
Start to verify the signature of the packages by first downloading the following two files from
support.dell.com
:
PE2850-BIOS-LX-A20.bin.sign
PE2850-BIOS-LX-A20.bin
5
Import the public key by running the following command line:
gpg --import <linux-security-publickey.txt>
The following output message appears:
gpg: key 23B66A9D: "Dell Computer Corporation (Linux Systems Group) <linux-security@dell.com>" not changed gpg: Total number processed: 1 gpg: unchanged: 1
6
Verify the public key by typing the following command:
gpg --edit-key 23B66A9D
Then at the command prompt, type the following commands:
fpr sig
n
7
Verify the PE2850 BIOS package digital signature by running the following command:
gpg --verify PE2850-BIOS-LX-A02.bin.sign PE2850­BIOS-LX-A02.bin
The following output message appears:
gpg: Signature made Thu 14 Apr 2005 04:25:37 AM IST using DSA key ID 23B66A9D gpg: Good signature from "Dell Computer Corporation (Linux Systems Group) <linux­security@dell.com>"
8
Copy the files that you downloaded to a directory where you want to store all the packages for the Dell system, for example, to the
/home/updates/2850/bin
directory.
Using Dell Update Packages 29
9
Create a simple script that executes the following packages one-by-one in this order:
ESM system firmware
BIOS
Use the CLI you can schedule the process by using the task manager. On each line of the file, you also include check the results of the execution. Use the CLI (BIOS) of the script.
10
You analyze the log file, find that the packages installed successfully, and note that the system was rebooted. You then install Server Administrator.
At this point, the Dell system is running the most current operating system, system BIOS, and system firmware. You are now ready to install the financial application for your division.
-q
option on each line in the script for these packages so that
| tee -a /var/log/upgrade.log
-r option for the last line
to
Scenario Two — BIOS Update for 200 Systems
You are the system administrator for a large business with over 500 stores. Every store location has a Dell system that is used to manage the company’s inventory and billing systems. About 200 of these stores are running on Dell systems. The latest BIOS update available on support.dell.com is designed to dynamically regulate the system's cooling fan speeds, which allows the systems to run quieter and consume less energy. Because you remotely manage these systems, you have invested in a software distribution tool that allows you to schedule remote software installation and updates. You also have a planned 4-hour service window each weekend when you can perform any maintenance functions necessary on the company’s systems.
To roll out the BIOS update to the company’s Dell systems, you perform the following general steps:
1
Log on to Dell hardware service tag for the Dell system. Otherwise, you can also select the
2
Select
3
Download the new BIOS DUP for the Dell system.
chmod +x
support.dell.com
Model
.
BIOS
as the category.
packagename
, select
Drivers and Downloads
.bin
and enter the
30 Using Dell Update Packages
4
Use the software distribution tool to create an update task that delivers the BIOS DUP to all the systems in the network.
The update task is a script that invokes the BIOS DUP and uses the CLI
-r -q > redirect_output.log options to ensure that the system is
rebooted when necessary.
Because this BIOS DUP executes only on a Dell system, you can plan on distributing this to all systems regardless of the system model type. The DUP does not affect other systems.
5
Use the software distribution tool to schedule the BIOS update task to run on all systems at 2:00 A.M. this coming Saturday, which falls within the allotted 4-hour maintenance window.
6
On Sunday morning, you log in to your system and check the execution results report within the software distribution tool and determine that 180 of your 200 systems successfully applied the BIOS update.
7
The attempted BIOS update on the remaining 20 systems returned the information that the update was not required.
8
Log on to one of the 20 systems and check the BIOS package's
redirect_output.log
file.
You confirm that on these 20 systems, the BIOS version was already up–to–date because these systems were those most recently purchased from Dell.
You have successfully completed the BIOS update process for the company.
Using Dell Update Packages 31
32 Using Dell Update Packages

Command Line Interface Reference

Using the CLI

This section provides information for using the command line interface (CLI) for Dell™ Update Packages (DUPs).
CLI Options
You can display information about CLI options by typing the DUP name and either -h or --help at a command line prompt. For example, type the following command to get a help screen about the CLI options:
./
packagename
The console displays all of the command line options and provides help for each choice.
Table 3-1 provides a list of the CLI options, a description of each option, and the command syntax.
Table 3-1. CLI Options: Usage
CLI Option CLI Task Description Command Syntax
(no option; run command without options)
Run commands in interactive mode.
-h or --help
Help option
.bin -h or --help
Apply the DUP in interactive mode; if the DUP is valid and can be applied, interacts with the user, asking questions.
Display command line options and help information.
--help option executes
The before all other
-- options.
NOTE: This option exits after
displaying the requested information; no DUP verification or updates occur.
./packagename
./packagename
-h
./packagename
--help
.bin
.bin
.bin
Command Line Interface Reference 33
Table 3-1. CLI Options: Usage (continued)
CLI Option CLI Task Description Command Syntax
-c
Check option
-f
Force option
Determine if the update can be applied to the target system.
Force a downgrade or update to an older version. The -q option is required when using the -f option.
./packagename
-c
./
packagename
-q -f
NOTE: Before downgrading the
software to a previous version, see the documentation for the previous version.
--list
List package contents option
-q
Run command in non-interactive mode
-r
Reboot option
Display all files that are contained in the DUP.
NOTE: This option exits after
displaying the requested information; no DUP verification or updates occur.
Execute the DUP silently without user intervention.
When -q is not specified, the DUP is in the interactive mode.
Reboot the system, if required, after performing the update. The reboot does not occur:
• If the DUP fails or is not applicable to the target system.
• If the DUP does not require the target system to be rebooted.
The -q option is required with this option.
./packagename
--list
./packagename
-q
.
/packagename
-r -q
.bin
.bin
.bin
.bin
.bin
34 Command Line Interface Reference
Table 3-1. CLI Options: Usage (continued)
CLI Option CLI Task Description Command Syntax
--rebuild
Rebuild option
-v,--version
Display version option
--extract
<path>
Automatically rebuild a DUP to support Linux operating system kernels in addition to the supported kernels.
See "Rebuilding Packages."
Display the version, fixes, enhancements, and release date; lists systems to which the DUP can be applied.
NOTE: This option exits after
displaying the requested information; no DUP verification or updates occur.
Extract all files contained in the DUP to the path you specify. If the directory specified in the path does not exist, it is created.
If the path contains spaces, use quotation marks around the <path> value.
.
/packagename
--rebuild
./packagename
-v
./packagename
--version
./packagename
--extract /update
./packagename
--extract "/update files"
NOTE: This option exits after
extracting the requested files; no DUP verification or updates occur.
.bin
.bin
.bin
.bin
.bin
Command Line Interface Reference 35

Exit Codes for CLI

After running DUPs, the exit codes described in Table 3-2 are set.
The exit codes help you determine and analyze the execution results after you run DUPs.
Table 3-2. Exit Codes
Value Message Name Display Name Description
0 SUCCESSFUL Success The update was successful.
1 UNSUCCESSFUL
(FAILURE)
2 REBOOT_REQUIRED Reboot
3 DEP_SOFT_ERROR Soft
Unsuccessful An error occurred during the
update process; the update was not successful.
You must restart the system to
required
dependency error
apply the updates.
Some possible explanations are:
• You attempted to update to the same version of the software.
• You tried to downgrade to a previous version of the software.
To avoid receiving this error, provide the /f option.
36 Command Line Interface Reference
Table 3-2. Exit Codes (continued)
Value Message Name Display Name Description
4 DEP_HARD_ERROR Hard
dependency error
5 QUAL_HARD_ERROR Qualification
error
6 REBOOTING_SYSTEM Rebooting
system
The required prerequisite software was not found on your system. The update was unsuccessful because the server did not meet BIOS, driver, or firmware prerequisites for the update to be applied, or because no supported device was found on the target system. The DUP enforces this check and blocks an update from being applied if the prerequisite is not met, preventing the server from reaching an invalid configuration state. The prerequisite can be met by applying another DUP, if available. In this case, the other package should be applied before the current one so that both updates can succeed. A DEP_HARD_ERROR cannot be suppressed by using the /f switch.
The DUP is not applicable to the system. Some possible explanations are:
• The operating system is not supported by the DUP.
• The system is not supported by the DUP.
• The DUP is not compatible with the devices found in your system.
A QUAL_HARD_ERROR cannot be suppressed by using the /f switch.
The system is being rebooted.
Command Line Interface Reference 37
Table 3-2. Exit Codes (continued)
Value Message Name Display Name Description
7 RPM_VERIFY_FAILED RPM
verification has failed
The Linux DUP framework uses RPM verification to ensure the security of all DUP dependent Linux utilities. If security is compromised, the framework displays a message and an RPM Verify Legend, and then exits with exit code 9.
RPM produces output only if there is a verification failure. The format of the output is:
.SM5DLUGT 'utility
name'
For example, if the fmt command is compromised, the framework displays the message:
rpm verify failed:
.M...... /usr/bin/fmt
RPM Verify Output Legend:
.- Verification test passed
S- File Size differs
M- Mode differs (includes permissions and file type)
5- MD5 sum differs
D- Device major/minor number mismatch
L- ReadLink(2) path mismatch
U- User ownership differs
G- Group ownership differs
T- mTime differs
38 Command Line Interface Reference

Rebuilding Packages

Overview

When you download a Dell™ Update Package (DUP) from the Dell Support website at support.dell.com, you want to apply it to a specific target system. The DUP application checks for two general compatibility criteria between a package and the target system to which you are applying it:
Is the system on which you are trying to apply the DUP running a Dell-supported Linux operating system?
If the system on which you are trying to apply the DUP is running a Dell–supported Linux operating system, is the system also running a Dell–supported Linux kernel version?

Dell-Qualified Path

The Dell-qualified path can be described in the following steps:
1
You download a DUP from
2
The DUP meets all compatibility and dependency checks for the target Dell system.
3
The supported version of the Linux operating system and kernel version for which the DUP was created, match the running operating system version and the running kernel version on the target system.
4
Continue applying the DUP to your system.
support.dell.com.

Dell-Enabled Path

The Dell-enabled path allows you to customize DUPs to run on target systems that do not have supported operating systems or supported kernels. When you try to apply a package to a system, if the operating system or kernel is not supported, the DUP application displays a message to that effect.
Rebuilding Packages 39
The Dell-enabled path allows you to customize a DUP by using the
--rebuild option. The prerequisites for using the --rebuild option are described in "Setting Up a Test System for Rebuilding a Package."
The Dell-enabled path is described by the flow diagram in Figure 4-1.
Figure 4-1. Dell-Enabled Path for Rebuilding Packages
Dell
Supported
OS?
Dell
Supported
Kernel?
N
Y
Y
Use the --rebuild option to customize the package
N
Continue Execution
packagename.bin
--CUSTOM
The Dell-enabled path can be described in the following steps:
1
Download a DUP from
2
When you try to apply the DUP to your system, the DUP application
support.dell.com.
discovers that your target system does not have a Dell-supported operating system.
3
The DUP allows you to rebuild a customized package for your unsupported operating system and issues a disclaimer that this customized package is not supported or warranted.
40 Rebuilding Packages
4
The DUP checks to make sure that the kernel, for the package you are trying to apply to your target system, is supported. If the kernel is not supported, you must follow the "Dynamic Kernel Support" procedures and other procedures found later in this section to build a customized package.
NOTE: It is recommended that the --rebuild option be executed on a test system
having the same configuration.
5
When you have successfully built a custom package for the operating system and kernel that are running on your target system, read the warning messages before applying the package to your target system.
6
Specifically, the supported version of the Linux operating system and the kernel version for which the package was created, match the running operating system version and running kernel version on the target system.
7
Continue applying the package to your system.

Dynamic Kernel Support

The kernel-dependent driver built into the DUP must be compatible with the kernel on the system to which you are applying the package.
When you download a DUP from support.dell.com, the packages contain precompiled driver modules for a limited set of kernels and their corresponding GNU C compiler (GCC) versions. If the kernel that is running on the system(s) to which you want to apply the DUP is not one of the supported kernels, then the package will not work on your system. You can rebuild your package by using your running kernel source and binutils.rpm, and then apply the rebuilt package to any target systems that have the same running kernel, as the one where you rebuilt your package.
Customers typically run three or four different kernels across thousands of servers on their network. Applying updates to systems running these different kernel versions becomes difficult if you have to meet these prerequisites on each server across the network. When building customized packages, you can set up a test system for rebuilding packages that meets the prerequisites for rebuilding packages. See "Prerequisites for the Test System."
Rebuilding Packages 41

Determining Whether Your Package Is Supported

Rebuilding a supported kernel does not require any prerequisites. In this case, the standard DUP is used and the rebuild process completes successfully.
Rebuilding an unsupported kernel requires prerequisites. See "Prerequisites for the Test System."
DUP execute on a given target system and can determine if the running kernel is supported by the package you are trying to apply to your system. In cases where the currently running kernel is not supported, the DUP application tries to rebuild the package. If the prerequisites are not present for an unsupported kernel, the rebuild fails and the DUP application issues one of the following error messages:
Update Package is unable to build a device driver for the running kernel because the required kernel source files are not installed. See "Rebuilding Packages" in the Update Packages User’s Guide for more information.
or
Update Package does not support the running kernel. See "Rebuilding Packages" in the Update Packages User’s Guide for more information.
The above messages indicate that the running kernel is not supported by the DUP that you attempted to apply to your Dell system. You can proceed with the update in one of the following ways:
Install the prerequisites for compiling customized packages for the running kernel directly on the system to which the package is being applied, rebuild the package on the system, and then reapply the rebuilt package.
Rebuild the package on a test system that meets the prerequisites for a test system, and then distribute the update to systems that have the same running kernel, model name, and configuration, across the network.
42 Rebuilding Packages

Setting Up a Test System for Rebuilding a Package

Dell recommends using a test system that has the same running kernel as the kernel that is running on the system in the production environment.
Scenario
The following scenario covers the major steps that you would follow in determining that your downloaded package does not support the running kernel on the Dell system to which you were trying to apply the package. The scenario provides a high-level description of the steps for rebuilding the package and distributing it to the systems on which you want to use the rebuilt package.
1
Download the latest BIOS version from the Dell Support website at
support.dell.com
2
When trying to apply the package to the Dell system, you learn that the precompiled package that you downloaded, does not support the kernel version that is currently running on your system.
3
An inventory of your network’s production environment shows that the same unsupported kernel is running on a total of 200 systems.
You decide to use the DUP package. The customized package will support an additional kernel.
for a Dell system.
--rebuild
option to build a customized
4
Select a non–production add support for this kernel.
5
On this test system, ensure that certain prerequisites are satisfied.
If the prerequisites are not satisfied, the work. For more information on the prerequisites, see "Prerequisites for the Test System."
Run the for the running kernel. For example, type the following command:
./PE2850-ESM_FRMW_LX_R92394.bin --rebuild
--rebuild
test
system on which to rebuild this package to
--rebuild
option against the downloaded DUP to add support
Rebuilding Packages 43
option will not
6
Apply the rebuilt package to a test system to ensure that the package applies without errors. For example, type the following command:
./PE2850--ESM_FRMW_LX_R92394.bin--CUSTOM
If package execution results in errors, correct the errors and rebuild and reapply the package until you get satisfactory results.
7
Distribute the rebuilt package to all 200 of the target systems. You can write a script to apply the package to all systems.

Prerequisites for the Test System

Prepare your test system to meet the following prerequisites for executing the
--rebuild command. If these prerequisites are met on the test system, you can test the package on the test system, and then distribute and use the rebuilt packages on Dell systems in a production environment.
The test system, or the system on which you are going to rebuild the package, must meet the following six prerequisites:
1
Kernel match
kernel version running on the system to which the rebuilt package is to be deployed (target system or production system).
To find out the kernel version that is running on your system, type the following command:
uname -r
: The kernel version on the test system must match the
The system responds by displaying the kernel version, for example:
2.4.9-e.3smp
Kernel GCC compiler match recommended
2
use the same GCC compiler version on both the test system and the production system.
NOTE: The kernel source and binutils.rpm do not need to be present on the
production system.
3
Kernel source is installed
kernel version must be installed.
4
The binutils.rpm package is installed binutils.rpm
44 Rebuilding Packages
is installed on the test system.
: The kernel source for the currently running
: It is recommended that you
: Ensure that at least some version of
5
Dell OpenManage™ Server Administrator is not installed on the test system
: Ensure that the Server Administrator is not installed on the system. You cannot rebuild a package on a system that has Server Administrator installed.
NOTE: It does not matter whether Server Administrator is installed on the
production systems to which the rebuilt packages are to be distributed and applied. Server Administrator cannot be present on the system where the packages are rebuilt.
6
Dell OpenManage Server Administrator device drivers are not built into the kernel on the test system
: Ensure that the Server Administrator device drivers have not been built into the kernel. The Server Administrator device drivers are named
dcdbas
and
dell_rbu
. You cannot rebuild a package on a system that has either or both of these device drivers built into the kernel.
You can identify that a driver is built into a kernel by checking if both of the following are true:
a
A directory for the driver exists in the
/sys/devices/platform
directory.
For the specific case of Server Administrator device drivers, type the following command and see if either
dell_rbu
is listed:
dcdbas
or
ls /sys/devices/platform
b
A module is not loaded for the driver.
For the specific case of Server Administrator device drivers, type the following commands to see if a module for either driver is loaded:
test
lsmod | grep -i dcdbas lsmod | grep -i dell_rbu
When the test system matches all the prerequisites listed above, you can rebuild the package.
Rebuilding Packages 45

Rebuilding a Package to Add Kernel Support to a Single System

The following command rebuilds the package for the currently running version of the kernel.
./packagename.
bin --rebuild
Depending on your system configuration, the rebuild takes between a few seconds and a few minutes to complete. DUPs display any error messages encountered while executing the rebuild command.
The /tmp directory requires 6 MB or more to execute the --rebuild command. If the /tmp directory lacks space for the execution of the
--rebuild command, the following message is displayed: Archive cannot be extracted. Please ensure that there
is enough space in the tmp folder.
When the rebuild is complete, an output package is created with the suffix --CUSTOM. The rebuilt package name has the syntax:
packagename
.bin--CUSTOM
The package on which the --rebuild option was run remains unchanged.

Rebuilding the Package to Add Kernel Support for Multiple Kernel Versions

Customers typically have three or four versions of a Linux kernel running across larger networks. For each unsupported kernel, a package should be rebuilt on similar test systems. The process for creating this package is described by the following flow diagram in Figure 4-2:
Figure 4-2. Creating a Package That Supports Multiple Kernels
Output
Dell Update Package from support.dell.com
Test system running kernel version (a)
Test system running kernel version (b)
Test system running kernel version (c)
package containing support for kernel version (a), (b), and (c)
46 Rebuilding Packages
The package can be built on one test system that supports kernel version (a). The output from the rebuilt package for kernel (a) can be copied to another system that is running kernel (b). The package can be rebuilt on the test system running kernel (b), and then copied to the system running kernel (c). The package can be rebuilt on test system c and the resulting output package will have a package that contains support for kernel versions (a), (b), and (c).
Scenario
A customer has two thousand clusters where three different versions of the kernel, versions (a), (b), and (c), are running. The customer wants to perform an ESM upgrade. The customer downloads the
PE2850-ESM_FRMW_LX_R92394.bin package.
PE2850-ESM_FRMW_LX_R92394.bin does not support kernels (a), (b),
and (c). To build a package that supports these three additional kernels, the customer performs the following steps:
1
Downloads package
support.dell.com
2
Types the following command to build support for kernel version (a):
./PE2850-ESM_FRMW_LX_R92394.bin --rebuild
If the package rebuild is successful, then a new package named
PE2850-ESM_FRMW_LX_R92394.bin--CUSTOM
test system running kernel version (a).
PE2850-ESM_FRMW_LX_R92394.bin
on the test system running kernel version (a).
is created on the
from
3
Copies the one of the system utilities such as scp, rcp, ftp, to the system running kernel version (b).
4
Types the following command to build support for kernel version (b):
./PE2850-ESM_FRMW_LX_R92394.bin--CUSTOM --rebuild
The output package is
CUSTOM
By using steps 3 and 4 iteratively, you can add additional support for as many kernels you want.
PE2850-ESM_FRMW_LX_R92394.bin--CUSTOM
PE2850-ESM_FRMW_LX_R92394.bin--
.
Rebuilding Packages 47
file using
Deploying Custom Packages Across the Environment
These modified custom packages rebuilt for a custom environment can be deployed across the network. The execution behavior of the rebuilt packages will not be modified. DUPs would still check for compatibility of the package with the system to which it is being applied, and for all other prerequisites that must be met for successful package execution as discussed in the "Using Dell Update Packages" and "Command Line Interface Reference" sections.
48 Rebuilding Packages

Troubleshooting

Known Issues

The following are known issues and corrective actions for Dell™ Update Packages (DUPs) for Linux operating systems:
Diagnostic Tasks will not run while a DUP reboot is pending
It is recommended that you complete any pending updates with a reboot prior to running diagnostic tasks.
Abnormal termination of a DUP
When a DUP stop abruptly due to a power outage or abnormal termination, perform the following steps:
1
Remove the lock file.
2
Type the following command:
3
Run the DUP again to reapply the update.
Error while loading shared libraries
Install the compatibility libraries from your Linux distribution if the following error is displayed: Error while loading shared
libraries: libstdc++.so.5: Cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory. To install the compatibility libraries, use the following command: RPM -ih compat-libstdc++­33-3.2.3-47.3.i386.rpm
rm -f /var/lock/.spsetup
Insufficient free physical memory to load the BIOS image
BIOS updates require enough free physical memory to load the entire BIOS image into the physical memory. If there is insufficient free physical memory available on the system to load the BIOS image, the DUP for BIOS may fail. In this instance, the BIOS can be updated using the diskette method, by running the DUP after adding more memory, or by running the DUP immediately after a reboot.
Troubleshooting 49
Kernel panic while running storage controller firmware update packages
Linux systems running one or more applications that interact with SCSI devices in certain ways are known to cause a kernel panic situation. Therefore, it is recommended that you stop Dell OpenManage™ Server Administrator and Dell OpenManage Server Administrator Storage Management Service before running storage controller firmware DUPs.
Loss of functionality while renaming Linux DUPs
Linux DUPs can be executed even if they are renamed, but some functionality is lost. Renamed Linux DUPs with extensions that are in the Linux MIME (Multimedia Internet Message Extensions) database could fail to execute from various X
-Windows desktops, for example GNOME. In this
case the desktop issues a file open error message indicating that the DUP cannot be opened. This occurs if a DUP with an uppercase renamed to one having a lowercase
".bin" extension. The ".bin" extension has
".BIN" extension is
an entry in the Linux MIME database which leads to the file open error.
NOTE: The readme.txt file, which is available on the Dell Support website at
support.dell.com, provides the latest information regarding known issues.

Messages

Table 5-1 provides descriptions and solutions to messages that you may receive when running DUPs.
Table 5-1. Update Packages Message Information
Message Description/Solution
This Update Package is not compatible with your system Your system: <Model NameN> System(s) supported by this package: <Model NameN>
This Update Package cannot be executed under the current operating system.
Select a compatible DUP, and try the update again.
DUPs support Linux operating systems and kernels supported by the
rebuild
"Rebuilding Packages."
option as explained in
50 Troubleshooting
--
Table 5-1. Update Packages Message Information (continued)
Message Description/Solution
This Update Package is not compatible with any of the devices detected in your system.
The prerequisite software version for this update was not found. Software application name: <name> Current version: <version> Required version: <version>
You must use the -f option to continue with the update in the non-interactive mode.
The software to be updated was not found. Install the following software, and then retry the update. Software name: <name> Required version: <version>
The version of this Update Package is newer than the currently installed version. Software application name: <name> Package version: <version> Installed version: <version>
The version of this Update Package is older than the currently installed version. Software application name: <name> Package version: <version> Installed version: <version>
Select a compatible DUP for the device(s) you want to update, and try again.
The DUP you selected cannot be installed because a prerequisite requirement was not met. Install the appropriate prerequisite software version, and try the update again.
The version of this DUP is either older than or the same as the version installed. To apply the DUP, you must force execution.
Your system does not contain the software that matches the DUP.
This message confirms the version of the currently installed software before the update is performed.
(Using the interactive mode) Type Y or N when prompted to continue.
(Using the CLI) Specify the -f option.
The DUP you selected cannot be installed because a newer version of the software already exists on the system. To install the older version: (Using the interactive mode) Type Y or N when prompted to continue.
(Using the CLI) Specify the -f option.
Troubleshooting 51
Table 5-1. Update Packages Message Information (continued)
Message Description/Solution
The version of this Update Package is the same as the currently installed version. <version> Software application name: <name> Package version: <version> Installed version: <version>
This package is not compatible with the version of Server Agent on your system. You must upgrade to Server Administrator before running this package.
This update package requires an OpenIPMI driver. Currently no OpenIPMI driver is installed on the system.
In order to assist in the <update|install>, you can download and install a version of the OpenIPMI driver that meets the minimum version requirement from the Dell Support website at support.dell.com. The minimum version required is <version>.
This Update Package requires a newer version of the OpenIPMI driver than is currently installed on the system, which is version <version>.
The DUP you selected cannot be installed because the same version of the software already exists on the system. (Using the interactive mode) Type Y or N when prompted to continue.
(Using the CLI) Specify the -f option.
Use an alternative update method from support.dell.com.
The DUP you selected cannot be installed because you do not have an OpenIPMI driver installed on your system.
Download and install the minimum required OpenIPMI driver from the Dell Support website.
The OpenIPMI driver that is currently installed on your system does not meet the minimum version requirements of the selected DUP.
52 Troubleshooting
Table 5-1. Update Packages Message Information (continued)
Message Description/Solution
Kernel source for the running kernel is not installed, and the currently installed OpenIPMI driver RPM was installed without the kernel source for the running kernel. In order to install OpenIPMI driver modules for the running kernel that meet the minimum version requirement, you must install kernel source for the running kernel, and then use DKMS (see man page for dkms) to install and build OpenIPMI driver modules for the running kernel. To install kernel source for the running kernel, install the <filename> RPM that is applicable to the running kernel.
Kernel source for the running kernel is installed, but the currently installed OpenIPMI driver RPM was installed without the kernel source for the running kernel. In order to install OpenIPMI driver modules for the running kernel that meet the minimum version requirement, use DKMS (see man page for dkms) to install and build OpenIPMI driver modules for the running kernel.
Install the kernel source for your running kernel, and then use the Dynamic Kernel Module Support (DKMS) framework to install and build the OpenIPMI driver modules for the running kernel.
You must install the kernel source by installing the .rpm file required by your kernel.
For information on using DKMS, see the man page for DKMS.
Use DKMS to install and build the OpenIPMI driver modules required by your running kernel.
For information on using DKMS, see the man page for DKMS.
Troubleshooting 53
Table 5-1. Update Packages Message Information (continued)
Message Description/Solution
You must reboot the system for the update to take effect.
An Update Package is already running. Wait until it is complete before proceeding with another update.
WARNING: DO NOT STOP THIS PROCESS OR INSTALL OTHER DELL PRODUCTS WHILE <BIOS|FRMW> UPDATE IS IN PROGRESS. THESE ACTIONS MAY CAUSE YOUR SYSTEM TO BECOME UNSTABLE.
Cannot find utilities on the system to execute package.
Make sure the following utilities are in the path:<path>
File already exists. The package is attempting to overwrite
Rebuilding package <package_name> to support kernel version "kernel.x". This process may take several minutes to complete...
No specific kernel version specified! Building support for current kernel...
Cannot create directory /extract directory. Please ensure that there is enough space.
If you shut down or power off the system after performing an update, you will lose the update.
After performing a BIOS update, do not power off the system. Reboot the system for the update to take effect.
You can run only one DUP at a time.
Do not interrupt DUP execution.
The package must have certain utilities to execute.
The utilities named must be in the path mentioned in the message.
an existing file.
The DUP application is rebuilding the package to support a different kernel version.
Unable to determine current system kernel. The DUP application attempts to rebuild the package.
Extracting the package to this path requires more disk space than is available.
54 Troubleshooting
Table 5-1. Update Packages Message Information (continued)
Message Description/Solution
Cannot create temporary file "filename"
Unable to create Temp Files. Please ensure that there is enough space in the tmp folder.
Archive cannot be extracted. Please ensure that there is enough space in the tmp folder.
Please provide a directory name to extract to.
ROOT directory cannot be used for extraction.
Successfully extracted to "/extractdir"
Cannot find utilities on the system to extract package. Make sure the following utilities are on the path: <path>
Rebuilding Package Failed ­Error creating driver support directory.
Rebuilding Package Failed ­Error copying kernel modules.
Rebuilding Package Failed ­Error re-creating archive.
The package cannot create the temporary file for a technical reason, such as lack of disk space, permissions, or a pre-existing file.
The package cannot create the temporary file for a technical reason, such as lack of disk space, permissions, or a pre-existing file.
There may be insufficient space for the archive.
Provide a directory name for the extracted files.
Create a directory for your extracted files.
The package contents were extracted to the directory you designated.
Locate the listed utilities and add their directory to your Pat h.
The package could not be rebuilt because the support directory could not be created.
The package could not be rebuilt because the kernel modules could not be copied.
The package could not be rebuilt because the archive could not be recreated.
Troubleshooting 55
Table 5-1. Update Packages Message Information (continued)
Message Description/Solution
Rebuilding Package Failed ­Uninstallation of driver was unsuccessful.
Package has been rebuilt successfully.
Rebuilding Package Failed ­Error creating output package.
Rebuilding Package Failed ­Error creating wrapper files.
Output package: The name of the output package is: Package execution requires
'root' user privileges. Successfully extracted to
<target_directory>. Rebuilding package
packagename.bin to support ’uname -r’.
This process may take several minutes to complete.
Rebuilding Package Failed ­Unable to extract package contents.
Rebuilding Package Failed ­Server Administrator device driver (HAPI) is already installed on the system. Package can be rebuilt only on a system that does not have Server Administrator device driver (HAPI) installed.
Unable to Install Dell Instrumentation Driver (HAPI).
The package could not be rebuilt because the driver could not be uninstalled.
The package rebuild was successful.
Ensure that the directory from which the package rebuild option is being executed is writable.
The required wrapper files could not be created.
Log in with root privileges, and try the update again.
The package is being extracted to the following directory.
DUP is rebuilding the packages to support the running kernel.
Wait for the process to complete.
Unable to extract the contents of the package.
Packages cannot be rebuilt on a system that has the HAPI device driver installed.
The package cannot install the HAPI driver.
56 Troubleshooting
Table 5-1. Update Packages Message Information (continued)
Message Description/Solution
Rebuilding Package Failed ­RPM Installation failed with error code=<RPM Install Error Return code>
packagename.bin: Rebuilding Package failed - Unable to extract package contents.
packagename.bin: Rebuilding Package - Kernel <kernel­version> is already supported by this package.
packagename.bin: Rebuilding Package Failed - RPM Installation failed with error code=<LSB_Compliant RPM Install Error Return code>
packagename.bin: Rebuilding Package Failed - Error creating driver support directory.
packagename.bin: Rebuilding Package Failed - Error copying kernel modules.
packagename.bin: Rebuilding Package Failed - Error recreating archive.
packagename.bin: Rebuilding Package Failed - Uninstall of driver was unsuccessful.
packagename.bin: Rebuilding Package Failed - Error creating files.
Provides the RPM error code that prevented the package from being rebuilt.
Ensure that there is enough space in the /tmp directory.
You do not need to rebuild this package because you have already customized the package for your kernel. You will only receive this message if you previously used the --rebuild option and then ran the rebuilt package.
Check the LSB Compliant RPM error return codes to determine the exact reason for failure.
Ensure that enough space is available in the /tmp directory.
Ensure that enough space is available in the /tmp directory.
Ensure that enough space is available in the /tmp directory.
The driver could not be uninstalled.
Ensure that enough space is available in the /tmp directory.
Troubleshooting 57
Table 5-1. Update Packages Message Information (continued)
Message Description/Solution
Package has been rebuilt successfully. Output package: packagename.bin:--CUSTOM.
Package has been rebuilt successfully.
packagename.bin: Rebuilding Package failed - Unable to extract package contents.
packagename.bin: Rebuilding Package failed - Server Administrator is installed on the system.
The installed operating system version is not supported by this Update Package. To customize this package, see "Rebuilding Packages" in the Update Package User’s Guide. In no event shall Dell Inc. be held liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages suffered during or after package customization and execution.
Unable to build a device driver for the running kernel because the build environment is not installed. See "Rebuilding Packages" in the Update Package User’s Guide.
Package is ready for distribution and execution on production systems with the same running kernel as the system on which it was rebuilt.
Package is ready for distribution and execution on production systems with the same running kernel as the system on which it was rebuilt.
Ensure that enough space is available in the /tmp directory.
Packages cannot be rebuilt on a system that has Server Administrator installed. Uninstall Server Administrator from the system before using the --rebuild option.
The prerequisites for rebuilding the package are present on your system, but if you apply the customized package to your system and it causes problems, you cannot hold Dell Inc. responsible.
Follow the steps in "Rebuilding Packages" to create the prerequisites for customizing packages.
58 Troubleshooting
Table 5-1. Update Packages Message Information (continued)
Message Description/Solution
The running kernel is not supported. See "Rebuilding Packages" in the Update Package User’s Guide.
In no event shall Dell Inc. be held liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages suffered during or after package customization and execution.
packagename.bin: Rebuilding Package failed - Server Administrator is already installed on the system.
Attempt to update BIOS or firmware to the same version. Update was unnecessary and not applied.
Inventory operation exceeded specified timeout.
Execution operation exceeded specified timeout
/var/lock directory must exist.
See the "Rebuilding Packages" section. You may be able to customize your package to support the kernel you are running.
Fully consider this statement before executing a customized package that was enabled by the --rebuild option.
Packages cannot be rebuilt on a system that has Server Administrator installed. Uninstall Server Administrator from the system before using the --rebuild option.
Re-application of BIOS or firmware DUP serves no purpose.
Inventory operations have time-out limits as defined in the package’s PIEConfig.xml file. Time-out durations are in seconds. If an operation times out, the remainder of the package update is cancelled.
Execution update operations have time-out limits as defined in the package. Time-out durations are in seconds. If an operation times out, the remainder of the package update is cancelled.
Create this system directory to ensure that package updates do not execute concurrently.
Troubleshooting 59
Table 5-1. Update Packages Message Information (continued)
Message Description/Solution
Unable to build a device driver for the running kernel because it is not supported on your system.
The Intel IMB driver is currently loaded. Please unload the driver before executing.
Warning: The shell less command is not available. When viewing Release Notes, press space to continue viewing notes, q to continue DUP processing.
Press 'q' to exit DUP (--version). Press 'q' to continue with DUP
execution (dup dup execution).
Warning: Screen widths of less than <numeric value> can distort the information view.
Select a compatible DUP and try again.
®
Unload the installing the selected DUP.
Continue to view the release notes, or install the less command from operating system CDs, and re-execute the package interactively.
The Linux DUP framework uses the Linux utility, less, to display the release notes relevant to the specific firmware or driver release managed by the DUP. When viewing release notes, DUP prompts when executed with the below options:
--version: Press 'q' to exit DUP (--version)
All other DUP execution: Press 'q' to continue with DUP execution
(dup dup execution).
To optionally correct this, answer <N>o to stop package execution. Widen the terminal window to the required size and then re-execute the package interactively.
Intel
IMB driver before
60 Troubleshooting

DUP Message Logs

Logging occurs when you run a command for a DUP. The logs maintain information about all update activities. DUPs write to the Messages log. If you install the same package more than once on the same system, the log is appended.
Messages Log
Messages log files reside in the following default location:
/var/log/dell/updatepackage/log
The messages log file includes the following information:
Date and time the DUP was launched
Package release ID number
The full path and filename of the support log generated by the command
•DUP type
DUP version
Framework version of the DUP
Version that was previously installed on the system
Version that the command is trying to apply to the system
Exit code that results from execution of the command
Whether a reboot was performed
NOTE: The support log files are intended for use by Dell support personnel.
Dell encourages you to redirect the DUP output to a file of your choice.
Messages Log File
Message logs are informational messages that you can view in one of the messages files in the /var/log directory. The messages files in the /var/log directory contain messages about a wide range of events on the system. Therefore, you must scan through the log file to find the messages that are relevant to DUPs. The following two messages are from two different dates. The example dated September 10 is an example of a command that qualifies for successful execution, but requires a reboot. The example dated September 19 is an example of a command failure.
Troubleshooting 61
Sep 10 00:14:54 localhost spsetup.bin[8088]: Package Release ID=R54734 Package Description=Dell ESM Firmware, A22 Previous version=1.63 New Version=1.63 Support Log path= /var/log/dell/updatepackage/log/support/R54734.log Exit code = 2 (Reboot required)
Sep 19 17:27:05 7708sk1 spsetup.bin[7835]: Package Release ID=R57025 Package Description=Dell ESM Firmware, A24 Support Log path= /var/log/dell/updatepackage/log/support/R57025.log Exit code = 1 (Failure)
Support Log File Example
=====> Dell Update Package application started <===== Command:-q -f Date:Wed Nov 8 15:24:18 CST 2007 ===================================================== Release ID: R136685 Update Package version: 5.4 (BLD_31) Collecting inventory... <?xml version="1.0"?> <SVMInventory lang="en"> <Device componentID="159" display="BIOS"> <Application componentType="BIOS" version="A19"
display="BIOS"/> </Device> <System systemID="121"/> <OperatingSystem majorVersion="2.4" minorVersion=
"21" spMajorVersion="0" spMinorVersion="0"/> </SVMInventory>
62 Troubleshooting
Running validation... BIOS Application: BIOS Previous version: A19 New version: A21 The version of this Update Package is newer than the
currently installed version. Software application name: BIOS Package version: A21 Installed version: A19 Executing update... WARNING: DO NOT STOP THIS PROCESS OR INSTALL OTHER
DELL PRODUCTS WHILE UPDATE IS IN PROGRESS. THESE ACTIONS MAY CAUSE YOUR SYSTEM TO BECOME
UNSTABLE! The system should be restarted for the update to take
effect. ================> Update Result <==================== Update ready to be applied at reboot Application: BIOS Previous version: A19 New version: A21 ===================================================== Exit code = 2 (Reboot required) <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
Troubleshooting 63
<SoftwareComponent schemaVersion="1.0" packageID= "R136685" releaseID="R136685" dateTime="2006-10­06T06:36:59-05:00" releaseDate="October 06, 2006" vendorVersion="A21" dellVersion="A21" packageType= "LLXP" xmlGenVersion="1.0.2378">
... ... </SoftwareComponent> Wed Nov 8 15:24:40 CST 2006
64 Troubleshooting

Glossary

The following list defines or identifies technical terms, abbreviations, and acronyms used in this guide.
BIOS
Acronym for basic input/output system. Your system's BIOS contains programs stored on a flash memory chip. The BIOS controls the following:
Communications between the microprocessor and peripheral devices, such as the keyboard and the video adapter
Miscellaneous functions, such as system messages
CLI
Abbreviation for command line interface. A command line interface or CLI is a method of interacting with a computer where commands are entered as lines of text and the output is also received as text.
CLI mode
The method by which you can install Dell™ Update Packages (DUPs) from a script in silent/unattended mode.
Dell OpenManage™ Server Administrator
Server Administrator provides easy-to-use management and administration of local and remote systems through a comprehensive set of integrated management services. It resides solely on the system being managed and is accessible both locally and remotely from the Server Administrator home page. Remotely
-
monitored systems may be accessed by dial Server Administrator ensures the security of its management connections through
-
based access control (RBAC), authentication, and industry-standard secure
role socket layer (SSL) encryption.
in, LAN, or wireless connections.
Glossary 65
DTK
Acronym for Dell OpenManage Deployment Toolkit. DTK includes a set of utilities for configuring and deploying Dell systems and is designed for users who need to build scripted installations to deploy large numbers of servers in a reliable fashion without having to dramatically change their current deployment processes. In addition to the command line utilities used to configure various system features, DTK also provides sample scripts and configuration files to perform common deployment tasks and documentation. These files and scripts describe the use of DTK in Microsoft
®
Windows® Preinstallation Environment
(Windows PE) and embedded Linux environments.
device driver
A program that allows the operating system or some other program to interface correctly with a peripheral device, such as a printer.
digital signature
A digital signature is used to authenticate the identity of the signer of a document and to certify that the original content is unchanged. It is an encryption scheme for authenticating digital information and is implemented using techniques from the field of public-key cryptography.
ESM
Abbreviation for Embedded Systems Management.
firmware
Software (programs or data) that has been written onto read-only memory (ROM). Firmware can boot and operate a device. Each controller contains firmware that helps provide the controller's functionality.
GCC
The GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) is a set of programming language compilers produced by the GNU Project. It is a free software distributed by the Free Software Foundation (FSF) and is a key component of the GNU toolchain.
GNU
GNU is a free software operating system. It's name is a recursive acronym for "GNU's Not Unix", which was chosen because its design is Unix-like, but it contains no actual UNIX code. The GNU system, combined with a third-party kernel called Linux, is one of the most widely used operating systems in the world, commonly known as simply "Linux".
66 Glossary
GNU Privacy Guard
The GNU Privacy Guard (GnuPG or GPG) is a free software replacement for the PGP suite of cryptographic software, released under the GNU General Public License.
interactive mode
The method by which you can install DUPs interactively through the CLI. In interactive mode, the text interface asks the user to confirm choices, such as whether to reboot the system now, or whether to apply the package even though the version number is the same as the one that is presently installed on the system.
ITA
Acronym for Dell OpenManage IT Assistant. ITA provides a central point of access to monitor and manage systems on a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN). It helps you to identify the groups of systems that you want to manage remotely and provides a consolidated view of all systems, giving you a central launch point for managing these systems.
kernel
The term "kernel" refers to the lowest level of any operating system that provides a hardware abstraction layer, disk and filesystem control, multi-tasking, load-balancing, networking and security enforcement. A kernel is not a complete operating system. A complete system built around the Linux kernel is commonly known as the Linux operating system.
non-interactive mode
The method by which you can install DUPs non-interactively through the CLI. In non
-
interactive mode, the text interface executes commands without user
intervention. If a command does not execute, the output is written to standard
-
output (the Linux terminal). Non
interactive mode is required for executing scripts.
OpenIPMI
Acronym for Open Source Intelligent Platform Management Interface. The Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) specification defines a set of common interfaces to computer hardware and firmware, which system administrators can utilize to monitor the system health and manage the system. OpenIPMI consists of two main parts: a device driver that goes into the Linux kernel, and a user-level library that provides a higher-level abstraction of IPMI and generic services that can be used on any operating system.
passphrase
A string of characters longer than a password that is used to create a digital signature.
Glossary 67
pre-operating system environment
A shell environment used to configure system hardware before a major operating system, such as Microsoft Windows or Linux, is installed.
rebuild
The
--rebuild
option is a process that modifies a DUP so that the package can support operating systems and/or running kernels for Linux operating systems beyond those that were supported and tested for the original DUP that you downloaded from
repository
support.dell.com
Repository is a database on the
.
Dell Server Updates
DVD that contains the updated BIOS, firmware, and driver components for Dell systems. The repository organizes these components into sets of updates for each supported system that, when applied, updates at one time all system components that require updates. Alternately, you can browse the repository for updatable systems and components without running the update application. You can access the repository for Windows and Linux systems on the
SUU
Dell Server Updates
DVD.
Acronym for Dell OpenManage Server Update Utility. SUU is one of the applications used for identifying and applying updates to your system. You can use SUU to update your Dell system or to view the updates available for any system supported by SUU. SUU compares the versions of components currently installed on your system with update components packaged on the
Dell Server Updates
DVD. It then displays a comparison report of the versions and provides the option of updating the components.
System Software Component
Software elements requiring update to a desired software version for efficient patch management. The following list includes components which are updated:
System BIOS
System firmware, also known as Embedded Server Management (ESM) firmware
Dell Remote Access Controller (DRAC) firmware
PowerEdge™ Expandable RAID Controller (PERC) firmware and device drivers
Network interface card (NIC) drivers
For the current list, see the Dell Support website at
support.dell.com
.
68 Glossary

Index

B
BIOS update for 200 systems
usage scenario, 30
C
Catalog.xml, 8
CLI
-c, 23, 34 Check, 34 exit codes, 36
--extract, 35
-f, 25, 34, 51-52 Force, 34
--h, 33
-h, 33 non-interactive mode, 34
-q, 25, 30, 34
-r, 34
-r -q, 31 reboot, 34 rebuild, 35
-v, 35
--version, 35
conditions that may require
update, 15
D
delivering Update Packages to
your systems, 24
Dell-enabled path, 39
Dell-qualified path, 39
determining whether your
package is supported, 42
developing system update
strategy, 15
digital signature, verify, 19-22,
29
DKMS, 53
dynamic kernel support, 41
E
executing Update Packages, 17
exit codes, 36
H
HAPI, 56
Help option, 33
Index 69
I
R
Important tips
using Update Packages, 13
K
key, verify, 20, 22
M
message logs for Update
Packages, 61
messages, 50
N
non-interactive mode, 34
O
obtaining Update Packages, 11
rebuilding a package
Dell-enabled path, 39 Dell-qualified path, 39 determining whether your package
is supported, 42 dynamic kernel support, 41 setting up a test system, 43 to add kernel support for multiple
kernel versions, 46
rebuilding a package to add
kernel support to a single system, 46
retasking a system usage
scenario, 28
RPM, 38
S
Server Administrator
documentation, 13
setting up a test system for
rebuilding a package, 43
P
public key, verify, 20, 22
70 Index
signature, verify, 19-22, 29
specifying order of multiple
updates, 24
standalone systems and
firewalls, 25
strategy for running Update
Pac ka g e s , 1 2
system reboot required after
installing some Update Pac ka g e s , 2 3
T
troubleshooting
known issues, 49
typical usage scenarios
BIOS update for 200 systems, 30 retasking a system, 28
typical usage scenarios for using
Update Packages, 28
U
Update Options, 8
element update, 8 system update, 9
Update Packages
acquiring, 16 applying on a running system, 23 before you begin, 15 CLI commands, 23, 33 CLI reference information, 33 delivering to your systems, 24 executing, 17 information provided about
updates, 12 message information, 50 message logs, 61 messages, 25 resolving compatibility
concerns, 22 some require system reboot, 23 standalone systems, 25 supported installation order of
Update Packages, 12 supported order of installation, 24
system and user requirements, 11 troubleshooting, 50 typical usage scenarios, 28 unattended mode, 25 updating many systems, 25 verifying the digital
signature, 19-22, 29
verifying the update, 25
updating many systems, 25
using Update Packages
important tips, 13
V
verify
digital signature, 19-22, 29 public key, 20, 22 update, 25
Index 71
Index 72
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